Notifying Police about rallies, not seeking permit - DSP

Ejisu (Ash), Oct. 1, GNA - Notifying the Police about the holding of rallies by political parties or any organised group does not amount to seeking a permit for the such functions, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Peter Baba, the Ejisu-Juaben District Police Commander, has said. He said notifying the Police about impending rallies did not amount to asking for a permit, neither was it intended as a strategy by the Police to stop the organisers from holding rallies. It was, therefore, erroneous for people to say that notifying the Police about the holding of an event amounted to seeking a permit, DSP Baba said.

The District Commander was addressing a forum organised by the District Secretariat of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for representatives of the various political parties, religious bodies and traditional rulers, at Ejisu on Thursday. The forum, which was also attended by Assembly and Unit Committee members and representatives of the various departments, was to create a platform to enlighten them on the need to ensure peaceful electioneering campaign.

DSP Baba explained that notifying the Police in respect of rallies only served as a basis for Police investigations to guarantee that rallies were organised in an atmosphere devoid of mishaps.

Mr Kusi Aborah, Ashanti Regional Director of the NCCE, stressed the need for the leadership of political parties to educate their members on the code of conduct of political parties and the electioneering procedure. He noted that because many of their party members were ignorant about the code and electioneering procedure, they sometimes did the wrong things on the assumption that such actions were legitimate.

Mr Aborah cautioned against situations whereby posters of political parties were torn or defaced saying that it was an electoral offence to tamper with such posters. He said it was equally unacceptable for anyone to paste such posters on the walls of a building without first seeking approval from the owner of the house. Mr Yaw Ahenkora Afrifa, District Chief Executive, advised Ghanaians not to take the current peace prevailing in the country for granted but to protect and nurture it since it was the only ingredient that was vital for the development of the country and individual progress.